asked the Minister for Defence if he will state (1) the number of applications for special allowances under the Army Pensions Acts which were made during the year 1962, (2) the number of allowances granted, (3) the number refused, and (4) the number to be dealt with at the end of that year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Pensions: Special Allowances.
38.
The statistics requested regarding special allowances under the Army Pensions Acts in respect of 1962 are as follows:—
|
Number of applications made |
1,179 |
|
Number of allowances granted |
1,005 |
|
Number of applications refused |
84 |
|
Number of applications on hand on 31st December, 1962 |
554 |
39.
asked the Minister for Defence (a) why a special allowance cannot be granted for a period of less than twelve months; and (b) why a recipient is disqualified because he is over sixty-nine years of age when the annual review of his award falls due, and is therefore denied any assistance for a period of less than twelve months until he qualifies for an old age pension.
(a) Section 7 (2) of the Amy Pensions Act, 1943, provides that a special allowance granted to any qualified person shall be an annual sum of such amount as would, when added to the yearly means of that person, not equal or exceed the appropriate annual sum. A special allowance cannot, therefore, be granted for a period of less than a year.
(b) A person is not disqualified from receiving a special allowance because he is over sixty-nine years of age. Ordinarily, a person is disqualified on review only because his yearly means equal or exceed the appropriate annual sum.